A Contracts Manager within Esh’s housing infrastructure division, Lumsden & Carroll Civil Engineering, is building on a 28-year stint with the company by securing his latest promotion.
Paul Rayner officially joined Lumsden & Carroll in 1997 after four years working as a subcontractor groundworker and has worked his way up the ranks over an almost 28-year period to become a Contracts Manager.
His journey with Esh began long before he ever stepped foot on a construction site as an employee, with his father Derek clocking up 39 years of service with the Group. And now, with Paul closing in on 28 years as part of the Esh family, he praises an alignment of cultures and values for such longevity.
“I’ve been around the company since I was young. I first met Jack Lumsden and Tony Carroll from being about five years old,” he said.
“My dad worked as a groundworker and engineer with Lumsden & Carroll before he became a Contracts Manager. Watching him succeed inspired me and I wanted to make my own mark in the industry. My dad had a good reputation and is well known throughout the construction industry. I was pretty driven to prove to myself that I could do it too.
“Working with the team as a groundworker, I was drawn in. I officially joined at 23 and I’m still here now at 50. When you’ve been in the industry as long as I have you get to know a lot of people, and there have naturally been offers come up, but for me, Esh is the best company in the North East. I still maintain there’s no one better – sometimes things are hard and you get challenges but that’s great. We’ve got great people, particularly in the roads and sewers team, I think they are as good as anyone else in the region.
Paul’s appreciation for the industry’s challenges have served him well as he developed a career with Lumsden & Carroll around roads and sewers works, taking a different route to his father. He said: “Roads and sewers have been my focus from the start, and while the work comes with its hurdles, it’s incredibly rewarding. My dad was predominantly looking after plot works in the housing sector but I didn’t want to work alongside him. I wanted to do it on my own merit and so I always worked separate, but he was always around if I needed support or to answer any questions I had.”
Starting out as a Groundworker, Paul was then promoted into a Site Agent role and is now a Contracts Manager. He added: “I’d seen my dad make his way up to management. I knew it could be difficult but rewarding as well so I gave it a go. What I’ve always loved about Esh Group is the support system. Whether it’s within our team or with our subcontractors, there’s a sense of family. It’s not just about work—it’s about helping people grow and succeed and that’s what keeps the work fresh, bringing new talent along on the journey.
“The reputation we’ve established with our clients speaks volumes about what we stand for.”
As he looks to the future, to his 30th anniversary with Lumsden & Carroll and beyond, Paul sees scope to help nurture young talent and is passionate about helping the next crop of construction professionals find their way in the industry. He said: “There’s a real opportunity for young people to build a long, successful career here. Every week brings something new—materials, techniques, ideas. The chance to learn and grow is constant, and that’s something I love about this job.
“Yes, starting out, it can be wet and dirty out on site, but the rewards far outweigh the challenges. At Esh Group, you’ll never be left to figure it out on your own. You’ll find a network of people ready to support you every step of the way—it’s like being part of a big family.”
What I’ve always loved about Esh Group is the support system. Whether it’s within our team or with our subcontractors, there’s a sense of family. It’s not just about work—it’s about helping people grow and succeed and that’s what keeps the work fresh, bringing new talent along on the journey.”